Method of forming piling



Sept. 7 1926.

D. M G. NEWTON METHOD OF FORMING FILING Filed Nov. 14

1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 771 iu mz W BY W W ATTORNEY Sept. 7 192s. 1 ,1-:99,142

D. M G. NEWTON METHOD OF FORMING FILING Filed Nov. 14, 1924 2"Sh eets'-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 7, 1926.-

UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

DONALD MCGBEGOR NEWTON, OF MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR- TO MACARTHUR CONCRETE PILE & FOUNDATION 00.,

INCL, OF NEW YOEKJK,

N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD OF FORMING IPILI NG.

Application filed November 14, 1924. Serial No. 749,893.

This invention relates to piling and to the erection of the same, and more particularly to composite piles and to the formation thereof.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved method whereby a pile may be put in place. i

A further object is directed to the provision of a simple and comparatively in expensive method of forming a strong and durable pile. a g A still further object is that of providing a method whereby a pile of the above mentioned type may be formed in soils wherein the water-line is below the surface of the ground,

Another object is predicated to the provision of a composite pile wherein the several parts are positively interlocked.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

A The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and relation and order'of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, and the article possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements, which are exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed de scription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Figures 1 to 7 illustrate successive steps in one methodof forming a pile according to the invention; and

Fig. 8 illustrates one type of pile contemplated b the invention such as may be forned by t e method illustrated in Figs. 1 to The apparatus employed in the present exemplification of the invention includes a hollow casing 10 and a rod-shaped ram 11. The casing illustrated consists of a tubular shell '13 having at its upper end a reenforcing band 14, at the top of which there is formed an inwardly extending flange 15 which serves as an abutment engaging the top of the shell 13. The ram may comprise a stem 16, the base 17 of which is shap d to fit snugly within the interior of the casing and is formed so as to provide a flat compacting surface 17' at its lower end. At the top of the stem 16 there is provided a head 18, including a shoulder 19 which is adapted to engage the upperend of the oasingin the present instance, the flange l5when the base 17 is adjacent the lower end of the casing with the flat surface 17 in the same plane with the lower surface of the casing. At the top of the head 18 there is provided a cushioning block 20 adapted to receive blows from a pile driver ofthe usual type, or to have pressure applied thereto by any suitable mechanism for the motivation of the ram.

In the present instance, there is illustrated a method which is especially suitable for the formation of a composite pile in soils in which comparatively poor strata overlie strata of sufficient firmness tosupport piles and structures superimposed thereon and in which the water-line is below the surface of the round. In the drawings there is shown the stratum of a relatively firm soil extending below the division line 25 and a stratum of weaker -soil such as mud or soft earth extending upwardly from line 25, the latter stratum containing ground water which rises therein to a line indicated by the division line 22. It will be appreciated, however, that this method may be varied considerably in accordance with the type of soil in which the pile is to be formed and with the type of pile itself.

According to the method proposed,- the ram is inserted in the casing and moved downwardly therein, the shoulder 19 serving as a stop when the flat surface 17 is in line with the base of the casing. The ram and the casing having been set on the ground, pressure is thereafter applied to the cushioning block 20 by any suitablemeans and the ram and casing are simultaneously sunk into the ground to any desired depth, which in the present instance is preferably about 4 feet below the water-line indicated at 22. The ram is then withdrawn from the casing and a solid pile member 23 inserted therein. It will be appreciated that this pile member may, as ageneral rule, consist of a wooden pile of the ordinar type. In the method illustrated, after t 1e pile member 23 has been inserted in the casing, the ram 11 is allowed to rest thereon and pressure is again applied to the cushioning block 20 to drive the ram and the pile member downwardly through the casing and to force the lower end of the pile member into the stratum of firm soil illustrated at 25. It will be noted that the lower ends of the base 17 is beveled at 26, so that when the upper end of the solid pile member protrudes from the top of the casing in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the ram will he guided by the beveled portion so as readily to follow the pile memher into the bore of the casing during the operation just described. The beveled portion 26 will, of course, also assist in the introduction of the ram into the casing at other times. It will, moreover, be apparent that during the sinking of the solid member 23 the casing will serve to guide this memher so t" at it may be sunk in asubstantially straight line. Thus when any obstructions, such as large stones, are encountered by the pile member during its downward movement, the casing will prevent this member from bein sodiverted from its path of movement by these obstructions as to form substantial anglewith the casing and hence with the vertical bore in which the upper portion oi the pile is to be formed. The disadvantage of having such an angle the completed pile will be obvious, since the weight superimposed. on the pile would tend to break it at such an angular joint. is a general rule, the casing will hold. a. pile member such as 28 with sufficient firmness so that this member will force the obstruc tion from its path; but, even though this is not the case, it will prevent the pile member from forming an angle with the casing, in which, in the .resent instance, the upper portion of the pile is to be formed, and will insure either that the operator will be aware of the obstruction, or at the worst, that a IrbSlflIltlflllj' straight although somewhat oblique will be termed.

After the solid pile member has been sunk to the proper distance, the ram is, in the present instance, again withdrawn from the casing and a. foundation material in a plastic state, such as the concrete indicated at 27', is introduced into the casing, only the lower end thereof being filled with this material in the particular method illustrated. The ram is then inserted within the casing and al-' cated at 28 in Fig. 5, which completely encloses the upper end of the solid pile memher and which, after the hardening of the concrete or other plastic material, will se-i curely grip this member positively to lock the lower and upper members of the composite pile against relative movement. In the formation of this head, as in the preliminary boring operation, the shoulder 19 acts to prevent the ram from being moved through the casing further than its position as shown in Fig. 1, so as to prevent the base 17 from protruding into the mass of con crcte below the casing and forming an indention therein into which, upon the withdrawal of the ram, the surrounding concrete will tend to fall loosely, thus weakening the head and allowing the surrounding soil to fall about the same and to mix with the concrete thereof. Obviously, types of joints other than the head 28 may be employed to interlock the upper and lower portions of the pile. For example, one end of the solid member may be tapered and the other member formed about its tapered end.

The method under consideration contemplates the withdrawal of the ram from the casing after the formation of the head 28 and the introduction into the casing of a column of concrete extending sufliciently above the surface of the ground so that upon the subsequent withdrawal of the casing and the filling in by the concrete of the cavity left thereby, the upper surface of the concrete will be approximately flush with the surface of the ground. The ram is once more inserted in the casing and allowed to rest upon the surface of the column of plastic founda tion material therein, and the casing wit-h drawn while the ram moves downwardly therein so as to compact the concrete and to spread it into the cavity left by the with drawal, oi the casing. In certain instances the weight oi the ram itself will be suliicient to cause this comacting and spreading of the concrete whi e in other instances extra pressure will he applied thereto, as by allowing the hammer oi the pile driver to rest against the cushioning blocl: 920 while the casing is withdrawn. it will be observed that by thus maintaining the concrete under pressure during the withdrawal of the casing the concrete is pressed into the cavity left by such withdrawal against the walls of the surrounding soil immediately upon such withdrawal, so that there is no opportunity for these walls to break down and for the soil to fall against and mix with the concrete in a manner as might otherwise weaken the upper portion of the I lie.

As the base 1? of the ram reaches the lower end of the casing, the flange 15 will engage the shoulder 19 so that a continuation oi the upward movement of the casing will carry the ram therewith Thus the casing and ram may be moved together to the posicalline from the strata" of'firm soil 25 tothe surface of the ground. This pile will consist of a lower member, which will usuall be of wood, and an u'per member, whic in the present instance is formed of concrete and which surrounds the upper end of the lower member so as to positlvely interlock these elements against relative movement.

Since certain changes in carr ing out the above the artlcle which embody the invention, may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not 1n a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the genericand specific features of the invention .herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be saidto fall rocess, and certain mo ifications in claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of forming a pile which includes ramming a easing into the ground, withdrawing the ram, introducing, a solid pile member into said casing, projectin said ram to drive the member through sai casing and into the soil beneath the same, withdrawing the ram, introducing a charge of plastic material into the casing, causing said ram to bear against the surface of such charge, and withdrawing the casi 2. The method of forming a p' e which includes ramming a hollow casing into the ground, withdrawing the ram, introducing a solid pile member into said casing, projecting said ram to force said member through the casing and into the ground beneath the same, retracting the ram, introducing a charge of plastic material into the casing, causing the ram to bear against the upper surface of said char e, and partially withdrawing the casing to orm an enlarged portion adjacent the upper end of said mem-v her, and subsequently withdrawing the casin; to providean upper pile member having a body substantially equal in area to the cross-sectional area ofsaid casing and less than the area of said enlarged portion.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DoNALn MoGItEGOR NEWTON. 

